Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Well, I've finally arrived in Perth after a 68 hour train journey over ever changing terrain (apart from the Nullabor plain which was flat nothingness for over 400kms on a poker straight length of railway track), although it's only brought me 2 hours closer to home in the UK! The journey makes you realise just how isolated Perth is from the other Australian cities. I'm really pleased I took the train though instead of flying, otherwise I would have missed out on so much. My legs were well and truly grateful for the oppprtunity to walk by the time I arrived in Perth. I had 2 nights of broken sleep on the train but the 3rd night I was so tired I only woke once overnight. The train stopped in Adelaide, Cook (with only 4 residents!), Kalgoorlie (where gold is still mined currently), and finally Perth. The Indian Pacific arrived in Perth at 09:10 and I couldn't check into my hostel until 13:00, so I left my luggage with the staff and walked down to the swan river and the swan bell tower which houses the original bells from London's St Martin's church. I then couldn't stop thinking of the song 'Oranges and Lemon's' all day which was slightly annoying after a while! After lunch I booked tours for tomorrow and Thursday. Tomorrow I'm off to Rottnest island for the day, which is a vehicleless island about an hours boat trip off the coast of Perth. I've got bike and snorkel hire in the package. Thursday I've booked a day tour to the Margaret river region, which almost everyone I've spoken to recommends. I still have to keep pinching myself to realise that I'm actually here having this amazing travel experience, since it feels like I've waited so long for it to happen! I met some great people on the train, including a couple who own a farm in the South West of WA. They shared some really interesting stories and history of the area and had some good recommendations for places to go and things to do in the area. Perth is quite a compact city, which makes it pretty easy to get around and there is free public transport in the centre. I spent the afternoon in Kings park which is huge and my legs were glad for the activity. I'm now just writing this from my hostel bed, ready for an early night and an early start tomorrow. I'm definately living my dream xx
- comments